Sullivan Earns 16th Save, Ballers Outlast Vibes for 60th Victory
Oakland Takes Series Against Rocky Mountain
By Nevada Cullen
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Ballers blew a 12-1 lead in Sunday's series finale against the Rocky Mountain Vibes, but still found a way to come out on top, 14-13. Oakland is the first to 60 wins in the Pioneer League, thanks to 10 straight series wins.
With the game tied at 13 in the ninth, the Ballers scored the go-ahead run on a double-play ball. Clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the inning, Oakland turned to Connor Sullivan.
The Martinez, California native rose to the occasion, using three weak fly-ball outs to right field to hold the Vibes scoreless in the ninth. Sully picked up his franchise-record 16th save of the season, and needs just three more to set a new PBL record.
Oakland jumped out to a 2-0 edge in the third. Esai Santos and Jake Allgeyer both laced RBI singles, with Allgeyer ending the day with three total hits.
The Ballers tacked on four more in the fourth. Christian Almanza and Daniel Harris IV each turned in a run-scoring single in the frame.
In the top of the fifth, the Ballers blew the game wide open. Almanza upped his RBI total to four on the day with a bases-clearing double, and Harris crushed a 413-foot, two-run moonshot to left center.
Then, the Vibes rallied. Rocky Mountain answered with four in the bottom of the fifth and six in the sixth, including a Dane Tofteland three-run jack.
After that, Austin Chouinard tied the game at 13 with a two-run double to left in the seventh. Davis Drewek would have made an inning-ending catch on the play, but the sun blinded him on his way towards the baseball.
Carter Booth nearly gave the Vibes the lead with a deep drive to left center, but settled for a 408-foot double off of the top of the fence. Adam Bogosian held Rocky Mountain scoreless for the first time since the third with a shutout eighth to improve to 3-0 in his rookie year.
Next, the Ballers welcome the Boise Hawks to Raimondi Park for the first time in 2025. First pitch for the series opener is set for 6:35 p.m. PDT Tuesday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
